ABOUT THIS WINE
Vineyard-designated Sauvingon Blancs are rare, but Rancho Chimiles, the source for this wine, is deserving of the honor. Terrence Wilson, owner of Rancho Chimiles and one of our longtime friends, is a meticulous grower whose philosophy of farming matches our own. Fruit from Rancho Chimiles has always been an integral part of our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, but we also produce small quantities of this single vineyard wine for our CLUB 23 members and winery visitors.
TASTING NOTES
Fresh aromas of grapefruit, lime and lemongrass with hints of guava follow through on the palate in this refreshing and light bodied Sauvignon Blanc. There is a fruity sweetness to the wine (although it is technically dry) as the citrus-spiked flavors interplay with ripe honey dew melon and notes of wild honeysuckle. Try this wine with grilled yellowfin tuna steaks and a citrus-cilantro salsa, or angel hair pasta tossed with shrimp and fresh asparagus.
VINEYARDS AND WINEMAKING
Rancho Chimiles bears the name of the original Spanish land grant of 1859. Tucked into the hills of Wooden Valley northeast of the town of Napa, the vineyard is influenced by nearby San Pablo Bay, which funnels cool air and fog into the area in the evening and early morning hours. But at an elevation of 700 feet, the vineyard also receives plenty of sunshine, and by carefully controlling the vines’ natural vigor, Wilson produces fruit with a focused core of citrus and minerality. These characteristics are carefully nurtured in the winery by foregoing malolactic fermentation and by aging the wine in “neutral” barrels which impart no oak character to the wine. A small amount of Semillon, a slightly richer grape variety, is added to round out the final blend and to balance the lean structure of the Rancho Chimiles Sauvignon Blanc.
VINTAGE
Flooding kicked off the New Year in Napa Valley, which made for great news headlines, but caused no damage to dormant vines. Cool, wet weather delayed bud break by a few weeks, but by early June, the sun came out and vines began to bloom and set fruit. In mid-July, a record-setting heat wave lasted about ten days, which helped the vines catch up to a “normal” place in the typical growing season. Seasonal and somewhat cooler weather returned in August, with a mild weather pattern continuing throughout the fall that allowed for moderately paced, deliberate ripening and a long harvest period. |
 |
RETAIL PRICE
$29
per bottle
|
